Self-cleaning coin-receiving device



April 30, 1929. D. c. FONDA ET AL SELF CLEANING COIN RECEIVING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11,-192e= 2 Sheets-Sheet 15mm? mi'oi's Doug/a: ss 6 0124% 15266115. Ha W2 flaezplflwvl J.

April 30, 1929. o. c. FONDA ET AL 1,711,049

SELF CLEANING COIN RECEIVING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,711,049 PATENTFJFOFFICE.

noUeLAss o. FONDA, or wns'r ORANGE, AND ROBERT L. HATFIELD, OF EAST, ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOLRS T NIXON VENDING ND'oHA GE MAKING MACHINES, vINo, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. r

SELF-CLEANING COIN-RECEIVING DEVICE.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in self-cleaning coin receiving devices, designed especially for use in connection with coin-controlled vending machines, cl1angc-n1aki11g machines, and inother similar capacities and relationships where it is necessar 1 or desirable to keep the coin path free of all foreign matter for the passing of the purchase coin to the operating mechanism of the machine so as to avoid loss of sales: and this invention has for its principal object to provide a novel simplified construction of this character which will be highly etlicient in operation and durable in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a self-cleaning unit capable of employment either as the coin receiving mechanism or as part of the coin receiving mechanism. through which the purchase coin must travel to the coin-controlled mechanism of the vending machine, and capable of being operated through the medium of any suitable reciprocatory element or working part of the machine with which the unit may be associated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combination of plates constructed an d arranged to constitute walls defining the sides and bottom of the coin passageway, certain of the plates being mounted for pivoting so as to effect the discharge of any foreign matter or coin caught in and obstructing the passageway, and further to provide an arrangement in which a movably mounted inclined floor will be swept clean of any matter reposing thereon when it is actuated.

(.lther objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference to be had to the acoompan'ying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts in section of a vending machine embodying our improved self-cleaning unit;

Fig. 2 is a top plan section, taken on the line Q-Q of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the two wing plates with the bridge plate omitted;

Fig. 4 represents a vertical sectional end elevation, taken on the line 41 of Fig. 1 g

F 1g. 5 represents a cross section and plan of the parts shown in Fig. 1 and taken through the self-cleaning unit;

6 represents a side elevational view of the wing plate carrying the raceway floor; and taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.3];

Fig. 7 represents an elevational view of the outside of the wing plate which constitutes a side of the coin palssageway; and,

Fig. 8 representsa side elevational view of the recessed face of the bridge plate with the coin deposit receiver in section. I r

The preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in-the accompanying drawings comprises a central wall or bridge plate 9 and two wing plates 10 and 11 arranged at opposite sides thereof and pivotally supported at one end thereon for bodily swingable movement. These elements are constructed and arranged to constitute walls defining sides and the bottom of a coin passageway or raceway; the general purpose being to pr0 vide an arrangement in-which an entire side and the raceway floor of the passageway may be mechanically withdrawn to eflect t-he release and discharge of any waste or coin clogging the passageway. I v, v

In the illustrative embodiment, the bridge plate 9 has an n wardly inclined-end portion 12, a downward y inclined intermediate portion 13, and. a straight end portion 14. In the present instance, for the passing ofa prescribed size of coincapable of effecting the operation of the machine with which the self-cleaning device is to be associated,*a downwardly inclined recess 15 is provided in the body of the intermediate portion 13 inwardly from one face thereof and isextended into the straight portion 14 where it is directed vertically downwardly at 16 F i". 8 to rovide a coin ClGll"8IV or dro 1. 2: P i I This recess is open at the lower inclincd edge 17 and at the vertical edge 18 adjacent the short wall 18" At the front at 19 and along the top and rear at 20, the wall defining the recess may be slightly raised or lipped, such raised or lipped portions being coplanar with the short wall 18and comprising therewith suitable contacting points for the wing plate 10 which constitutes the side closure for the recess. 1 i

To provide for the mounting of the bridge plate 9, the end portions 12 and 14 are made with laterally projecting flanges 21 and 22, respectively, which are suitably holed as at 28 to receive bolts or other securing means; and to provide for the pivotal support, of the wing plates 10 and 11, the flange 22 is made with forward extensions comprising upper and lower hinge ears 24: and 25 carrying two hinge pins 26, of which there is one for each wing plate. Projecting outwardly from each wing plate are upper and lower hinge ears 27 and 28 appropriatelyholed formounting upon their corresponding hinge pin 26. As shown in this instance, the upper and lower hinge ears 2'? and 28 of the wing plates are formed to carry spring attaching pins 29 at appropriate points; and a coil contractile spring 30 connects the pins 29 and constitutes yielding means for holding the wing plates normally closed against the bridge plate, there being a suitable transverse aperture 31 in the bridge plate for the accommodation of the coil contractile spring. In this connection also, it will be observed that the rear ends 32 of the wing plates are concavely fashioned to accommodate the coil contractile spring.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the lower hinge ears 28 of the wing plates constitute parts of horizontally outwardly projecting flanges 33, suitably concaved at 34 and carrying, forwardly of such concavities, depending abutments 35 adapted to be acted on by cams whereby to spread the wing plates away from the bridge plate and against the tension of the coil contractile spring. In this manner, the wing plates are pivotally mounted at one end for opening and closing movements, are placed under tension to be normally closed against the bridge plate, and are provided with means whereby to be mechanically opened.

Formed with the wing plate 11 is a ledge 36 adapted, when this wing plate is closed, to extend closely underneath the inclined edge 17 with which it conforms in inclination and to constitute a raceway floor for the recess 15, and this ledge has a vertical extension 37 to fit in front of the vertical edge 18 just above the short wall 18. By this arrangement, when the wing plates are closed, a proper coin dropped through the coin deposit slot-SS of the coin receiving device 39, arranged at the crest of the intermediate portion 13, will race downwardly on its edge upon the raceway floor 36 and fall through the open vertical exit 16. hen the wing plates are opened, any foreign matter such as pieces of paper, match ends, slivers of wood or metal and other obstructions, which mischievous and malicious persons sometimes insert through coin deposit slots, and which clogs the passageway, preventing the passing of a purchase coin,willbe released anddischarged along with any arrested coin,t-hereby clearing the passageway; and in this connection it is to be observed that suitable provision may be made for the automatic return to the would be purchaser of the arrested coin, so that upon redepositing the returned coin he will be able to obtain his goods, the passageway having been cleared of all obstructing matter. It is important to note that, under he arrangement shown, when the wing plate 11 is opened, any foreign matter adhering to the raceway floor will be swept therefrom by the inclined edge 17.

In the present exemplifimrtion, the selfcleaning unit of our invention mounted in the upper portion of a framing 4O constituti ing part of a vending machine, and which is shown provided with a longitudinally reciprocatory shaft 41 arranged directly below the bridge plate 9. Said shaft all which is a pull out shaft (being drawn in the direction of the arrows appearing thereon in Fig. 1) controls on its fullstroke the operation of the vending machine after a deposited coin has entered and unlocked or released suitable coin-controlled mechanism (not shown). This shaft may be conveniently arranged to have a. partial or limited stroke, insuliicient to effect the operation of the vending machine, but sufficient nevertheless to impart enough movement for the opening of the wing plates 10 and 11, which are constructed and arranged to be opened on a movement representing a very small percentage of the full stroke of said shaft.

Mounted on the shaft all and therewith movable is a housing 4.2 which for all purposes of the present invention represents the destination of the purchase coin, the said housing having a suitable aperture .3 (Fig. l) for receiving the purchase coin as it falls from the vertical coin exit or drop 16. As best shown in Fig. 4, said housing 42 is equipped with two rigid upwardly project ing arms 4-4:, there being one such arm for each wing plate; and projecting outuuirdly from the upper ends of the arms el-l are douhie-faced cams 45 arranged to impinge the depending abutments 35 and thereby to cause the wing plates to swing outwardly into open position, both on the outward movement of the shaft i1 and on the reverse movement thereof. Immediately the cams 4:5, on both the outward and in ard movements of the shaft ll, rides by the impinged abutments 35, the coil contractile spring 30 restores the wing plates to closed position against the bridge plate. Thus the wing plates are openedand closed once on the outward movement of the shaft and once on the inward movement thereof.

A suitable shield 46 may be placed below the bridge and wing plates to receive the material that drops tl'ierefrom and to direct it away from the mechanism below, said shield being supported by an arm 4'7 attached to and depending from the bridge plate. "Another shield 48 may be applied to the housing to protect the same where waste is likely to fall from the opening of the wingplate 10. Still another shield 49, adapted to serve as a slideway for the return to the customer of a coin released with the foreign matter, may be suitably applied to the framing; and in this connection it may be remarked that in p actice all of the shields may he fashioned and arranged so as to direct the released material, whether waste matter or a coin, into a common delivery receptacle located outsidethe vending machine. a a

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accoi'npanying drawings, it will be seen that a very eilective device has been disclosed whereby the coin passageway may be kept clean by mechanical means so that the customer, becauseiot a clogged condition of the passageway, need not suffer the loss of his deposited coin, but on the return of the deposited coin, accomplished through the cleaning of the passageway, mayredeposit hiscoin and obtain the goods be desires. Moreover, the proprietor of the vending machine embodying our self-cleaning de vice will not suffer loss of sales.

While we have thus illustrated and described the preferred form of our self-cleam ing unit, it will be understood that changes and alterations in the details of construction as well as in the mode of imparting opening movement to the wing plates may be made, to which changes and alterations we are entitled, provided the same are effectedwithin the scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: a i i 1. A device of the character described comprising a wall and two wing plates cooperating together to constitute a coin passageway; said wing plates being arranged to have move ment relatively to said wall and bodily outwardly thereof and comprir'ng respectively an openable side and an opcnable bottom "for said passageway.

A device of the character described com.- prising two wing plates held apart by a wall with which they are united at one end by hinge means; said wall and one of said wing plates jointly comprising a coin, passageway; and a ledge on the other of the wing plates constituting a floor for the passageway.

3. A device of the character described comprising a "all and a wing plate jointly comprising a coin passageway; a pivotal connection between one end of said wing plate and said wall arranged to permit said wing plate to swing bodily outwardly to open one side of the passageway; an inclined floor constituting a bottom closure for the passageway; and a support for said floor pivoted on said wall and arranged to swing outwardly to withdraw said floor from the passageway.

and-hingedly connected thereto at one end; a

said wall and one of saidwing plates jointly comprising a coin passageway; a ledge Ion the other of the wingiplatesv constituting a floori'or said passageway; and means for causing said wing plates to swing away from said passageway. f a i a 6. In combination, three plates arranged said wall to open one side and the bottom of to constitute a coin passageway; two of said plates being hinge connected for opening'and closing movement in relation to the third plate and comprising one side of the passageway and-the bottom therefor; spring means acting on-said. hinge connected plates for holding them normallyclosed; and abutments on said hinge connected plates arranged to be actedon tocause said hinge connected plates to be forcibly vopened againstthe influence of the spring means. i i

T. In comb'nation, three plates arranged toconstitute a coin passageway; two of said] platesbei-ng hinge connected for opening and closing movement in relation to the third plate and comprising one side and thebottom for the passageway; spring means acting on saidhinge connected plates forlholding them normally closed; abutments on said hinge connected plates; a longitudinally (reciprocatory member; andtcalnlneans on said member arranged to act on said abutments for opening said hinge connected plates.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a vertically disposed bridge plate having a recess in one face c0n stituting a downwardly inclined coin passageway, of a wing plate hinged at one end and constituting a side closure for the passageway; a second wing plate hinged at one end. and carrying a ledge constituting a raceway floor for the passageway; yielding means for maintaining both of said. plates in closed relation to the bridge plate; both of said wing plates being arranged to beswung outwardly to open the side and bottom of the passageway; and said second mentioned Wing plate being arranged to be opened in a direction to withdraw the raceway flooracross the bottom edge of the bridge plate whereby to effect the discharge of matter lodgedon the raceway floor.

t). In a device of the character described, a bridge plate having a coin passageway open at the bottom and provided with adownwardly inclined bottom edge; and a swingable device associated with said bridge plate and provided with an inclined shelf extending under said edge and constituting a raceway floor for the passageway, said swingable device beingarranged to be swung in a direction to withdraw said raceway floor across said edge whereby to effect the discharge of material lodged on said raceway floor.

10. In combination, three vertically disposed plates; one comprising a bridge plate and the remaining two comprising Wing plates arranged on opposite faces of said ridge plate; said bridge plate and wing plates being constructed and arranged to constitute walls defining the sides and bottom of a downwardly inclined coin passageway; pivot pins connecting the wing plates at one end to said bridge plate; and spring means connecting said wing plates for holdirig them normally closed against said bridge ate. p 11. In combination, three vertically disposed plates; one comprising a bridge plate and the two remaining comprising Wing plates arranged thereon for opening and closing movement; said bridge plate and wing plates being constructed and arranged to constitute walls defining sides and the bottom of a coin raceway; spring means connecting said wing plates for holding them normally in closed position; outwardly projecting flanges on said wing plates; and abutments on said flanges adapted to be acted on for forcibly opening said wing plates against the tension of the spring means.

12. A device of the character described comprising a bridge plate and wing plates constructed and arranged to constitute walls defining the sides and bottom of a coin raceway; said wing plates being united by hinges at one end to said bridge plate for opening and closing movement; abutments carried by said wing plates; a reciprocatory element; and cams on the reciprocatory element arranged to engage said abutments and cause the operation of said wing plates on movement of the reciprocatory element.

13. A device of the character described comprising a bridge plate and wing plates constructed and arranged to constitute walls defining sides and the bottom of a coin raceway; said wing plates being hinged at one end for opening and closing movement and provided with abutments; yielding means as sociated with said wing plates for holding them normally closed; a reciprocatory element; double faced cams on the reciprocatory element arranged to engage said abutments and cause said wing plates to open on both the outward and inward movements of said reciprocatory element.

14. A device of the character described comprising a bridge plate and wing plates constructed and arranged to constitute walls defining the sides and bottom of a coin raceway; said wing plates being hinged connected at one end for opening and closing movement and provided with abutments; yielding means associated with said wing plates for holding them normally closed; a longitudinally reciprocatory element arranged below said bridge and wing plates; cams'on the reciprocatory element arranged to engage said abutments and cause said wing plates to open for the discharge of material from the raceway on the movement of the reciprocatory element; and means carried by the reciprocatory element for receiving the discharged material.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

DOUGLASS G. FONDA. ROBERT L. HATFIELD. 

